[Ryan]

Why do Muslims face the Ka'bah in Makkah for prayers? Do they worship it? What is inside it and why is called the "House of God"?

Allah says in the Qur'an 2:115:
"And to Allah belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn yourselves or your faces there is the Face of Allah (and He is High above, over His Throne). Surely! Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knowing". This is perfectly true at all times, before and after the institution of the Ka'bah as Qibla.

The Qibla is the direction to which Muslims turn to pray (If it is not possible for a Muslim in an unfamiliar place to verify which direction the Qibla is, they may face the direction that their conscience agrees with is likely to be the Qibla). Islam lays great stress on the social (congregational) prayer in order to emphasise our universal brotherhood and mutual co-operation. For such prayer, order, punctuality, precision, symbolic postures and a common direction are essential, so that the Imam (leader) and all his congregation may face one way and offer their supplications to Allah. The Ka'bah, being the first monument to of monotheism on Earth (Qur'an 3:96), provides the required universal unity and order in the direction for prayer (salat) and Hajj (Qur'an 2:144) and that is why Muslims worldwide face it during prayer. It is a symbol of Muslim unity in direction, purpose and destiny in life.

The Ka'bah is a man-made structure, empty with not even writing inside it. To worship the Ka'bah would be to commit the unforgivable sin of 'shirk' or associating something in worship with Allah.

In the Bible (Psalms 138:2), David is said to have faced a temple in Jerusalem to pray, but that did not mean he was worshipping the temple.

The phrase "House of God" as applied to the Ka'bah is so, not because Muslims believe that God is inside it, but because it is dedicated to Him. Because one own a particular house does not automatically mean one lives in it. The phrase "House of God" is also used in the Bible, in Genesis 28:17 - 22 in a similar sense. Jesus in John 2:16 refers to the temple as "My Father's house" i.e God's house.

Source: Train the Trainers Tutors Handbook (Islamic Education Trust)

[Mahmoud]

What you said is very interesting indeed. Its always been a question on my mind but this puts a solid answer to the question. Jazaks.
However though, i am not quite sure that the Kah'bah is actually empty. Some say it is and some say its not. Those that have been in it, ie certain Sheikh's who shall remain nameless , wont actually say what they saw inside. Im not saying your wrong, im just saying we cant be sure exactly till one of us actually sees the inside of the Kah'bah ( Cube in english).

Here's a question to rack the brain, if you are inside the Kah'bah which direction do you face when you pray???

Guess....

Well according to a Sheikh here in adelaide, you are actually not meant to pray at all inside the Kah'bah. As a muslim you are instructed to pray towards the Kah'bah and going into Fiq and into deap readings, you find you are actually not allowed to pray Inside the Kah'bah.
I just thought that would be a good little teaser, but i could be wrong

[Ryan]

When I was in Makkah in 2000 there was some dignitary that came to visit and do Tawaf, it was almost like the most important person on Earth had arrived, but that's another story. They opened up the Ka'bah and the visitors went in. From the level I was on could see inside. There was a light bulb hanging from above with bare walls, nothing else was in there, but then again the people that entered blocked the left side of the interior...

[Mahmoud]

So you managed to sneak a peak inside ehhh

Well like i said im not sure myslef but what is said is just what i heard. So there could be nothing inside, im just not sure.

[LEB_ON_EZE]

The Kaaba, which all Muslims face when they pray the Kaaba was originally built by Prophet Adam (AS), and later rebuilt by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Prophet Ismael (AS), as a replica of God's house in heaven.

Muslims consider the Kaaba—a small sanctuary near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca to be the most sacred spot on earth. Muslim legend teaches that the ancient religious patriarchs Ibrahim and Ishmael built the shrine using foundations first laid by Prophet Adam AS. Muslims all over the world orient themselves toward the Kaaba while praying

WHATS IN IT THE BLACK STONE – HAJR-E-ASWAD
The black stone is Located at the southeastern part of Kabah, a sign of divine grace, it is a heavy oval stone, of black reddish color. Its diameter is 30 cm, surrounded with a silver frame. The circler is required to kiss the black stone if possible. It is told that Messenger (peace of Allah be upon him) said, "the stone and the station of Ibrahim are two bequeathed from paradise, but Allah obliterated their light, otherwise they would have lit between east and west". He also said, "when the black stone was lowered from paradise, it was whiter than milk, but the sins of humans made it black".

asalam your brother Ibrahim

[Fatima]

This is so off topic, but Brother Ryan, is it possible to get copies of the Train the Trainer Handbook from somewhere OR do you have to do the course?

I remember a few years ago when the course held, but I couldnt register cos I had to go to Melbourne at that time.
Do they still have those courses each year?
Where/what is the Islamic Education Trust?


Assalamu Alaikum,
amitaF

[Ryan]

Br. Nurudeen left the electronic versions with us on CD I think, I'll double check insha-allah.

The Islamic Education Trust is in Nigeria. They're a Da'wah and Islamic Education group who started the Train the Trainer Course alhmadulillah.

Courses haven't been organised recently, insha-allah maybe they can begin again. Br. Imran, Sis. Anisa? Might you have any plans down the line?